Flying to the top of Mount Cook National Park
3 min read
My birthday surprise was flying in a helicopter to the top of Mount Cook National Park. It was one of most scenic and unforgettable moments of my life.
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Planning
Leslie’s birthday surprise for our oldest daughter and me was nothing short of spectacular—a scenic helicopter ride that took us to the very top of Mount Cook National Park. The adventure began at Glentanner, where you can conveniently book your helicopter ride right at the information center located at the entrance to the holiday park.
There are various routes available, ranging from a quick 20-minute ride (which we opted for) to circling Mount Cook, landing on glaciers, or embarking on a several hour helicopter hike. If we make it back, definitely going to be booking a longer one.
Gear for a helicopter ride
Booking was a breeze, even on the same day. Our flight was scheduled right after lunch, and after a safety briefing at the center, we were just steps away from boarding the chopper.
Flying
As a first-time helicopter rider, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Our flight went really smooth, a different feeling taking off vertically. We soared up and circled around a couple mountains before landing on the peak of one. I thought landing would be tough but he set it down pretty quick.
Once out, we ran off to have a snowball fight, snap a few pics, and built a snowman cousin for Olaf, named ‘Olive’. The pilot snapped our pictures and then went to the back of the helicopter. Couple minutes later came back with a printed picture of us in a cool souvenir booklet that my daughter proudly displays on her desk next to her bed.
Descending from the mountain proved the most exhilarating part of the flight. It was a beautiful view of Aoraki/Mt Cook and then he just pointed nose down and dropped off over the side. Felt like a roller coaster, but he levelled off pretty quick. It was a bit bumpy going down, but nothing worse than what I have felt in an airplane.
The other kids ate ice cream at the park center while waiting. The youngest two were quite disappointed they couldn’t go up back once we landed. Hopefully we can visit again when they’re older, and take on one of the challenging hikes spanning a glacier on the majestic Mt Cook.